Sir Samuel Bignold DL (1791 – 2 January 1875)[1] was a British businessman with insurances and Conservative politician.
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Born in Norwich, he was the third and youngest son of Thomas Bignold[2] and his wife Sarah, widow of Julius Long and daughter of Samuel Cocksedge.[3] He was educated at schools in Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.[3]
From 1814, he worked as secretary for the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company and from 1818 had the same office for the Norwich Union Life Assurance Society,[4] both founded by his father.[3] Although an admirer of Benjamin Disraeli, he rejected the latter's rather dubious request of a loan by the Society, however after a meeting lent the money from personal funds.[3] In 1866, he arranged the incorporation of the Amicable Society, Britain's oldest life insurance institution.[3]
Bignold was appointed Sheriff of Norwich in 1830 and was mayor of that city in the years 1833, 1848, 1853 and lastly 1872.[5] He presented a note of support of the Crimean War from the city of Norwich to the Parliament in 1854, for which he was created a Knight Bachelor.[4] Shortly thereafter, he entered the British House of Commons and sat for Norwich in the following three years.[1] Bignold served as Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk.[6]
In 1815, he married Elizabeth, the only child of William Atkins[6] and had by her six sons and seven daughters.[3] He died in 1875 at Bignold House, which he had bought in 1820 and then had become his head office, and was buried at St Margaret, Old Catton.[3]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Warner Samuel Morton Peto |
Member of Parliament for Norwich 1854 – 1857 With: Edward Warner |
Succeeded by Henry William Schneider Viscount Bury |